One of Russellville’s top chamber executives is moving on to the next chapter in her life.

After nearly nine years of service, Felecia Turnbow made the decision to resign from her position at the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce and move to Conway with her family.

Turnbow, a Russellville native, started work at the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce in October 2004 as program director. Her focus was on fundraising projects and developing and implementing programs to support the chamber’s members.

She recalled conducting orientation for Leadership Russellville during her first week on the job.

“That’s one of my favorite programs, because it introduces people to a network of community decision makers,” Turnbow said.

She thrived in her role and over time, expanded her role when she became the organization’s executive vice president. She maintained many of her previous duties and added others, such as supervisory and budgeting.

Throughout her time at the chamber, Turnbow maintained existing programs and created new ones. She has had a hand in Leadership Russellville, the Business Expo, Speed Networking and many other member services.

Her chamber work has been more than just a job, Turnbow said, but a passion. She said her mother was a small business owner, and as such faced many obstacles. Turnbow said she saw the struggles her mother had and hopes the chamber can help businesses small and large overcome challenges and better themselves.

Now, Turnbow’s husband, a small business owner himself, has accepted an exciting new career opportunity in Little Rock. After spending some time commuting back and forth, the Turnbows decided the best decision for their family would be to move to Conway. Turnbow is finishing up work at the chamber this week, but will return to help train her replacement.

She said the move is a leap of faith on her part, as she doesn’t have a new job lined up yet. She will stay busy, however, getting her three children settled in to their new community and new schools until she locates her next opportunity.

“We are just taking this time and putting our faith in God,” Turnbow said.

The hardest part of moving will be leaving her friends and family, she said, though she said the bonds she has formed here will not be broken by the addition of a few extra miles. Friends doesn’t just mean those from her personal life either, Turnbow said, but also the relationships she has formed with business owners during her time at the chamber.

“I care about all of them and want them to succeed,” she said.

Turnbow said she will be in Russellville often to spend time with family and visit friends.

Chamber President Jeff Pipkin is expected to make an announcement soon regarding the hire of a new executive vice president. Once that person is on board, the chamber will also hire a new marketing director, as that position was recently vacated as well.